Friday, August 18, 2006

Progress report for 1 hr. challenge and something entirely different

Today I worked on assembling the blocks and am just about finished with the pre-little squares step. I may be able to finish this evening and start on the little squares tomorrow.

And now for something entirely different......Tazzie has been showing her applique for a miniature quilt, I commented on it, she emailed and asked if I applique/like to applique. Here is my answer...a little over 10 years ago, I took a class to do a Baltimore Album quilt-then went back to work and didn't finish the class. The instructor tried to get us to use a different applique method for each block, which we pretty much did, but don't ask me which methods, I don't remember. You can see the reverse appplique as I haven't trimmed it yet and it shows through.These are the blocks that I made up to that point. The center block (burgundy colors) is an applique block from the same time frame from another class that I was also taking at that time- a sampler. Both quilts are Vintage UFOs in my closet. The sampler will be relatively easy to finish, I am a block or two short, so I will chose random patterns and finish it up eventually. As far as the Baltimore Album- I completely enjoyed doing the applique, but these days my hand cramps up, so I don't know if I would ever see the end of a 25 block applique quilt. That one may require one or two more blocks to balance the color, then empty blocks in between to show off quilting. OR- maybe it just needs to be a table runner!

I have a ufo that looks very much like that! I bought Elly's first Baltimore Beauties and Beyond book and taught myself to appliqué using that book. I think I have about 8-9 blocks finished, and at least that many half done. I still want to finish it one day, but it will consist of all simple blocks. Now that I've moved on to folk art appliqué I have no desire to do any of those complicated basket, etc. blocks with dozens of tiny pieces!

Your applique blocks look wonderful Gail! I think no matter how they end up, or in what, they will be a hit!!It's hard when life changes our ability to do what we want..what you have done looks great! *VBS*